Southern South America: Southeastern Argentina

The Semi-arid Pampas are found in the center of Argentina. The ecoregion consists of grasslands with some shrubs. There are few endemic plants in the ecoregion, but the area has a high biodiversity. Most of the natural vegetation has been replaced by agriculture and cattle ranching. The ecoregion is considered endangered and is regarded as a high priority conservation area at the regional scale.

Scientific Code

(NT0806)

Ecoregion Category

Neotropical

Size

126,300 square miles

Status

Critical/Endangered

Habitats

Description Location and General DescriptionThe Semi-arid Pampas ecoregion is located in the Buenos Aires, Pampa, San Luis, and Cordoba Provinces in Argentina. This region has sandy or sandy loess soils frequent old and present-day sand dune relief. The rainfall accumulates in extensive lagoons. The climate is dry with annual precipitation averaging around 700 mm. Two main rivers, the Colorado and the Salado traverse the ecoregion.

The predominant vegetation is steppe grass, which forms thick mats in the grasslands. These areas dry out during the dry season and during the cold season, leaving a renewed layer of soil protected by the detritus of the same plants. The vegetative species present in this region are Poa ligularis, Stipa tenuissima, Stipa tricótoma, Stipa filiculmis (flechilla or pasto puna), Panicum urvilleanum, Elionurus muticus, Sorghastrum pellitum, Eragrostis lugens, Bromus brevis, Chloris retusa and other. Shrub species are beginning to show more frequently including Discaria longispina, Baccharis articulata (carquejilla), Geoffroea decorticans (chañar), Prosopis caldenia (caldén) and others. (Cabrera 1976 & Anderson et al 1970).

The fauna in this ecoregion is also found in the Humid Pampas ecoregion. Some of the common animals include the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus celer), the puma (Felis concolor), Geoffroy’s cat (Felis geoffroyi), pampa fox (Dusicyon gymnocercus) and the zorrino común (Conepatus chinga). Other mammals in the area are the vizcachas (Lagostomus maximus), the cuis pampeano (Cavia aperea), the nutria (Myocastur coypus), and the opossum (Didelphis albiventris).

Some of the common birds in the area are the ñandú (Rhea americana), the perdiz chica (Nothura maculosa), the martineta colorada (Rynchotus rufescens), and waterfowl such us the gallareta chica (Fulica leucoptera), the cuervillo de cañada (Plegadis chihi), the cigüeña americana (Euxenura maguari) and others.

Among endemic species present in this ecoregion the most notable are Limnornis curvirostris, Cynolebias nonoiuliensis and Liophis elegantísima. Species in danger of extinction are the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus celer), which is the most important herbivore in the area, the loica pampeana (Sturnella defilippi), Limosa haemastica, Laterallus spilopterus and Coturnicops notata (Chebez 1988; Bertonatti & González 1992; García Fernández et al 1997; Canevari et al. 1998).

There are approximately 24 species of marine mammals that frequent the coastal areas of the ecoregion. They include four species of seals and three species of sea turtles that can be seen occasionally (among them Dermochelys coriacea, considered vulnerable by UICN). There are also more than 300 species of marine and coastal birds. This area forms a transitory place for fish, migratory marine birds, marine mammals and seals. Punta Rasa is an important feeding and resting spot for many migratory bird species including Calidris canutus, C. Fuscicollis, Limosa haemastica, Pluvialis dominica, Charadrius falklandicus, and gaviotines (Sterna hirundo) (Canevari et al. 1998).

Current StatusThe semi-arid pampas and the humid pampas are the phytographic territories most suitable to agriculture and cattle grazing and are the most populated areas of Argentina. Man has altered almost the entire area of these two ecoregions. Cereals and fodder are planted for cattle grazing, altering in this way the natural vegetation found in this area. A great part of this region has been assigned to agriculture leaving only some relics of the original vegetation in less useable places. However the climatic changes associated with the new technologies and irrigation systems that pretend to change the areas for the better put the biodiversity in the area at serious risk.

There are no protected areas in the ecoregion, despite the fact that it has been declared a maximum priority region for conservation (Dinerstein et al. 1995). The semi-arid pampas contain one of the last relics of semi-arid pampas grasses. In 1997 an agreement was signed between Parques Nacionales and the government of the province of San Luis to create a National Park and National and Provincial Reserves, but there has not been any kind of action. Unfortunately the pampas deer population is still affected by poaching. There are also two roads built across an area critical for conservation.

Types and Severity of ThreatsThere are two severe threats in the region: conversion of remaining natural habitats for agriculture and degradation through over-grazing are severe threats (Dinerstein et al.1995). Burning and draining of lands are also threatening remaining habitats (Dinerstein et al. 1995) that could possibly affect protected areas.

Justification of Ecoregion DelineationThe delineation’s for the Semi-Arid Pampas were derived from Daniele and Natenzon (1994), and linework follows their classification of "Sabanas y Pastizales de la Pampa Semiárida (savannas and grasslands of the semiarid pampas)" region. Other resources consulted include Cabrera (1976) and Morello (1968).